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Rebels give John Boehner another chance

Boehner has dealt with a frequently unruly group of tough conservatives within his own party. | POLITICO Staff

One turning point for conservatives seems to be Boehner’s statement that he will no longer negotiate one on one with the president. He has met privately with many of the members who voted against him in the weeks since the speakership vote, which came after many conservatives opposed the tax hikes on the wealthy contained in the fiscal cliff deal. Boehner spokesman Michael Steel replied “yes” when asked whether there is confidence the conference would be able to unify in the months and years ahead.

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South Carolina Rep. Mick Mulvaney, who opted not to vote at all during the speaker election, said after meeting with Boehner, he thinks the conference is in a sound position to move forward.

“It’s not conflict. The divisions within the conference focus almost exclusively on strategy, not the principles or the end goal,” Mulvaney said.

Mulvaney praised Boehner, dismissing the idea that the speaker vote showcased a rift in the conference that has the potential to cause problems.

“I’ve talked privately with the speaker; we had a very good conversation,” Mulvaney said. “John is as conservative an individual as I am. John might be the exact right person to lead us through these next couple of months.”

Yet as the president is sworn in on Sunday for a second term, conservatives acknowledge the challenges ahead for them and for the party as a whole. Polling shows that the majority of Americans would blame congressional Republicans, not the president, if the debt limit isn’t raised and the country fails to meet its financial obligations.

At last week’s GOP retreat, Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan told reporters the GOP needed to “recognize the realities of divided government that we have” when dealing with the president. He told conference members in a closed strategy session that Republicans should avoid overpromising and underdelivering.

“While we aspire to give the country a very specific and clear vision about what we think is the right way to go on the major, big issues of the time, we have to at the same time recognize the divided government moment that we have and the fiscal deadlines that are approaching, what those involve, and then how we’re going to proceed forward.”

Idaho Rep. Raul Labrador, who sat in silence on the House floor as the clerk called his name twice during the speaker vote, told the Idaho Statesman he also thought Boehner could use the experience as a teaching moment.

“Maybe Boehner needs to know that the conservatives have the numbers to be effective in a coup, but maybe it’s not the right time,” Labrador said. “And maybe he’s the leader that needs to rise to become strong against the president.”

Members pointed to the fact that Boehner will no longer negotiate in private with the president as the clearest sign that the ship was changing course.

Louisiana Rep. John Fleming, who voted for Boehner, said as far as the speaker’s election goes, “all was forgotten” on both sides.

“I think it already had this impact, as many of us, and I’m one of them … have been very outspoken about the fact that I felt like he needed to consult with us more prior to votes, prior to negotiating and I think we won on that,” he said. “I think that’s what we achieved, he’s going to let us have more say so, more input. And in fact he’s already said he’s done negotiating with President Obama. I think the outcome is constructive, I really do. I think we’ll get better results.”